Ultra-Wide-Field OCT Measurements in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Relation to Their Visual Function.

Background: Ultra-wide-field optical coherence tomography (UWF-OCT) devices have recently been introduced to clinical practice. The goal of this study was to compare choroidal and retinal thickness (CT and RT) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with a healthy control group using UWF-OCT Xephilio S1. Additionally, we sought to determine the relationship between the RT and CT of patients with AMD, measured in different sectors, and their visual acuity.

Methods: The study included 104 eyes from 74 participants with dry AMD, 119 eyes from 86 participants with wet AMD, and 85 eyes from 53 healthy controls. Of the participants with wet AMD, 87 eyes received anti-VEGF treatment, 13 were treatment naïve, and 19 had incomplete data. The analyzed measurements were taken in the central area of 3 mm in diameter and two peripheral rings located between 3-9 mm and 9-18 mm diameters.

Results: There was no significant variation in the RT in any sector between the three study groups. CT in dry and wet AMD cohorts was significantly lower compared to controls in every sector. Patients with treatment-naïve wet AMD did not demonstrate significant CT loss but had a tendency for lower CT values. Visual impairment in patients with AMD correlated with older age in both subgroups and with smaller RT in the dry AMD subgroup.

Conclusions: Values of RT and CT obtained at the mid- and far-periphery with UWF-OCT generally reflect the alterations observed in AMD in the central part of the posterior pole. Intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment might contribute to loss of choroidal tissue observed in AMD in every sector.